Asshat of the Month

Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner Ted Nickel outpaced all contenders and, just as the month of September is coming to a close, won the much coveted, ( it must be much coveted with so many GOP’ers at the state and national level displaying conduct worthy of the title ) Asshat of the Month award. Congrats Ted! You’ve earned it buddy!

On why the Insurance Commissioner’s office decided against any statewide advertising about the Affordable Care Act: “‘I’m the government; I’m here to sell you something.’ How many people are going to go buy it?” asked Nickel. And: “People don’t just listen to the government,” said Nickel. “They go to people they trust; our message is go to someone you trust.”

On why his office didn’t release any rate information about health insurance plans: ” At the end of the day, the premium is still the premium,” said Nickel. “That insurance company that they’re with is still going to get whatever that number is.” .”

Danl,
Yes, he is implying – no, more strongly than implying, he is instantiating – 1. that citizens should and do trust the private sector (insurance companies) and 2. Citizens should not and do not trust the government. It’s the old Conservative-Libertarian canard to dismantle civics and We the People. These are the same rhetorical shenanigans that situate core American values/principles within the private sector rather than the realm of government and public sector -“abstract” things like Liberty and Freedom and Happiness. Ultimately, of course, the private sector can’t be trusted with the health and well being of the citizenry. That’s the purview of the government. Every aspect of Nickel’s message is subversive and corrosive to republican-democracy. Asshat is too kind an epithet.

We at ” Asshat of the Month ” have a very detailed and specific set of criteria that we apply to the achievements, or lack thereof, of all those who come under consideration for the award. There are many who qualify but, sadly, only one can win.

That said, there’s certainly every possibility that Mr. Nickel could still win
” Dumbass of the Day ” or ” Wingnut of the Week ” but I’m not associated with either of those awards and can only recommend him informally, which I’d be happy to do. 🙂